Ultraviolet light apparatus



0a. 11, 1949.. E. R. CAPITA 2,4

ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1944 9 INVENTOR. v I Q By151111] 2 (211411 4 Patented Oct. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,484,332 ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT APPARATUS Emil R. Capita, North Bergen, N.J. Application September 9, 1944, Serial No. 553,442

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to ultraviolet light generation and is hereindisclosed in some detail as embodied in various devices employing aninduced mercury vapor current which creates the desired arc-formingcurrent for the radiations of ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet lightis shown in one structure as generated within a hollowwalled containerhaving one or more walls of quartz or of other material adapted totransmit ultraviolet light, with the result that the container deliversthe light over a large area and thus a properly shaped container mayefficiently utilize the light uniformly and effectively.

In another form, the hollow walls in which the mercury arc is createdmay deliver the ultraviolet outwardly, as from a cylinder. In this form,the device is shown with the exciting high-frequency coils laid againstthe inner surface of a hollow-walled cylinder so that the mercury areforming within the walls generates ultraviolet light which is shown asradiating radially from a cylinder. It is likewise possible to generatethe mercury arc in a hollow curved surface such as a hemisphere, withthe exciting coil on the convex surface, so that the resultingultraviolet light focuses, for example, on an object at the focal centerof the curved surface. In the form shown, the hollow walls in which themercury arcs form, may be filled with a small quantity of argon or otherinert gas and may contain sufficient mercury to form the desired arcwhen vaporized. A current of proper frequency and amplitude in thehigh-frequency coils lying against one wall of the ultraviolet lightgenerator induces an oscillating current in the gas column generatingheat. This heat vaporizes part of the mercury which results in amercuryvapor arc. The walls may extend beyond the ends of the excitingcoil, thus providing a zone where mercury can condense and thus anapparatus may be built to provide a wide variety of mercury vaporpressures and consequently a wide range of are striking potentials.

An arc in the hollow walls of a hollow cylinder, for example, enables apiece of meat to be kept sterile at almost any desired temperature byuniformly distributed ultraviolet rays, so that it may be safely kept ata temperature for the processes to go on within the meat that tenderizeit by hanging.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described orwill be indicated in the appended'claims and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticsectional side view of a ring-shaped mercury are utilized as a meattenderizer;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a cylinder adapted to radiate ultravioletlight from the periphery;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a cylinder having walls that project beyondthe exciting coil to maintain a special mercury vapor pressure; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a curved surface adapted to focusultraviolet light upon a small area.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, a cylinder l0 having a hollow wall II isshown as surrounded throughout its length by a coil l2, diagrammaticallyshown. The coil is adapted to carry a highfrequency current supplied byterminals I3 and I4, so that the current may excite an ionic dischargein the inert argon or other gas confined between the inner wall l5 andthe outer wall IS, with the result that the annular chamber II formed bythe hollow walls is heated.

The heat increases until the mercury ll contained in the chamber II ispartly or wholly va porized. The vaporized mercury becomes thepredominating conductance in the chamber II and an induced mercury arcforms in the chamber.

The arc thus formed delivers ultraviolet light radially inwardly upon,for example, a carcass of meat [8 hanging in the cylinder l 0, beingsuspended from a transverse non-conducting crosspiece I 9 by a hook 20.The ultraviolet light is efiicient and effective because the inner walll5, made of quartz or some glass adapted to pass the ultraviolet light,transmits ultraviolet light uniformly about the carcass. violet lightimpinges from all sides and effects sterilization, the meat may hang aslong as is required for it to become tender without danger of spoilage,and, by properly regulating the conditions, the vitamin D content of themeat increased.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the bottom of the cylinder is closed by aconvex hollow-walled cover 2| against the outside ,of which lieconcentric coils 22 which may be separately excited by terminals 23, 24.The cover 2! includes a separate chamber 25 carrying its own argon orother gas and its own charge of mercury. The inner wall 2|a ispreferably of some material Since the ultratransparent to ultravioletlight like the wall 15.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the top of the cylinder is also closed by aconvex hollow-walled cover 26 against the outside of which lieconcentric coils 21 excited by special terminals 23, 2S so that thehollow chamber 30 between its walls carrying its own charges of argonand mercury, may be properly heated to form its own mercury arc emittingthe same ultra-violet rays to pass through the inner surface transparentto ultraviolet light.

The cover 26 may be lifted by a hoist 3| and;

may include openings 32 and 33 for circulating air, pre-filtered ifdesired, through the cylinder to absorb the heat radiated by the arcs inthe chambers II, 25, 30 into the closed interior of the cylinder ID.

The outer wall It and coil I2 may be SUI", rounded by a protective coveror enclosure l, preferably water-tight, so that the device may bescrubbed with water without damage.

In the alternative device shown in Fig. 2, ultraviolet rays are radiatedoutwardly through the outer wall M of a cylinder 35 which includes aninner wall 38 and a coil 3l lying inside the inner wall. The annularhollow chamber 38 contains argon or other suitable gas and mercury andthe coil 3-! is adapted, when excited by a suitable high-frequencycurrent, to form a mercury arc within the chamber 38 and thereby radiateultraviolet light through the outer wall as which is transparent toultraviolet light.

The cylinder 35 of Fig. 2 is shown as provided with a bottom cover 39and a top cover it with the leads 4! and 42 passing through the cover itand connected to the respective ends of the coil 31. The covers 39 and48 are shown as provided with ventilating openings '53 to cool off theinterior.

The alternative device shown in Fig. 3 illustrates how the ultravioletray emitting device with an inner wall 44 and an outer wall & may be sobuilt as to attain maximum efficiency of the mercury are which generatesthe light.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the exciting coil 46 with terminals 4'1, 48lies outside the outer wall 55 but covers only part of its length,leaving the lower end 69 of the annular chamber 56 between the wallsbare of winding with the result that the chamber 50 is relatively coldat that end. Mercury, therefore, condenses at that end and thus controlsmercury vapor pressure an the consequent striking potential of themercury column in the presence of the argon or other gas. The cylinderformed by the walls ti l, is is shown closed at the top by a convexcover or continuation 5| of the chamber 5!! formed by continuations 52,53 of the walls id, Q5. The convex continuation is shown as carryingcoils 5G having a terminal 55 for use instead of the terminal 41, whenthe cylinder carries the continuation iii.

The invention also provides a device shown in Fig. 4 which focusesultraviolet light at a point 56. In this form, the ultraviolet light isshown as proceeding from the curved surface El, which may take the formof a segment of a hollow sphere. To attain this end, the face 5'! isshown as the hollow wall of one side of a chamber 58 forming a segmentalportion of a sphere, the other or outer Wall being shown at 59. Thechamber 58 contains mercury and argon or other gas, and, like thechambers of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is excited by a high-frequency coil iii!to heat by ionic discharge and then produce an ultravioletlight-yielding mercury are when excited by its terminals 6 I, 62.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an effective andefficient means for curing meats, for maintaining a sterile atmospherein a predetermined space for providing a uniform distribution ofultraviolet light about an object, and for similar purposes. The deviceis simple in. construction, easy to operate and readily adapted fordifferent purposes. The device may be cleaned without danger ofimpairing the electric insulation and is otherwise adapted to withstandany rough usage to which it may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein without "departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described in some detail certain embodiments of myinvention, I claim:

1. An ultraviolet light apparatus comprising a chamber having at leasttwo spaced coextensive walls and containing a charge of mercury and aninert gas therebetween, a Wire for carrying a high frequency currentadjacent one of the walls and having convolutions extending asubstantial distance along a surface of said wall to energize themercury in the chamber and maintain therein a mercur arc of shapecorresponding to that of said chamber and radiating ultraviolet light,one of said walls having a concave surface defining an article-receivingcom-' partment and for converging the emitted light into saidarticle-receiving compartment.

2. An ultraviolet light apparatus for uniformly radiating convergingultraviolet light into a compartnient adapted to receive objects to betreated by said light, comprising an enveloping chamber bounded by afirst wall adjacent to said compartment and by a second wall coextensivewith and spaced from said first wall, said Walls being concave inrelation to said compartment, a charge of r mercury and an inert gaswithin said enveloping chamber, a wire for carrying a high frequencycurrent having 'convolutions extending over the major portion of asurface of one of said walls to energize the mercur in the envelopingchamber and maintain therein a mercury are producing an ultravioletlight radiating through said first wall to converge within thecompartment.

3. An ultraviolet light apparatus comprising a first substantiallyhemispherical wall transparent to ultraviolet light, a secondsubstantially hernispherical wall uniformly spaced from said first wallto form a substantially hemispherical chamber therebetween, a charge ofmercury and inert gas in said chamber, a coil of Wire adjacent one ofsaid walls and adapted to carry a high frequency current to energize themercury in the chamber and maintain therein a mercury are producingultraviolet light to radiate through said first wall.

4. The combination with a curved wall and a coil of wire adjacent ithaving convolutions thereof extending a substantial distance along saidwall, of a second curved wall substantially coextensive with said firstcurved Wall spaced opposite the first curved wall and transparent toultraviolet light and forming with the firstmentioned curved wall anintermediate curved chamber, and mercury and argon gas within theintermediate chamber adapted to produce and maintain an arc in saidintermediate curved chamber by means of the current induced by ahigh-frequency current in said coil so as to deliver ultraviolet lightthrough said oppositely spaced curved wall.

5. The combination with a cylindrical wall of a second cylindrical wallspaced from the first Wall and forming therewith an intermediatetube-like space, a coil of wire lying adjacent and along a surface ofone of said walls for carrying a high-frequency current to excite aconducting gas in the tubelike space intermediate said walls, said otherwall being transparent to ultraviolet light and surrounding acompartment on its concave side, and mercury between said walls togenerate ultraviolet light in said tubelike intermediate space whenexcited to form an arc and deliver converging ultraviolet light withinthe compartment.

6. The combination with a cylindrical wall of a second cylindrical wallspaced interiorly of 20 and within the confines of the first wall andforming with said first wall a tubelike space, a coil of wire adjacentone of said walls and extending over a major portion of the area thereofadapted to carry a high-frequency current to excite a conducting gas inthe tubelike space between said walls, said other wall being transparentto ultraviolet light and enclosing an articlereceiving compartment atits concave side, and mercury and an inert gas in the tubelike space Itween said walls to generate ultraviolet light when excited to form anarc in said tube like space and deliver converging ultraviolet lightwithin the article-receiving compartment.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising the combination ofcoextensive substantially cylindrical double walls forming anintermediate tubelike space between said double walls and surrounding anarticle-receiving compartment, an innermost of said double walls beingconcave and transparent to ultraviolet light, a conducting coilextending over the majority of the area spaces between the walls of eachof said double Walls to generate ultraviolet light and excite to are insaid intermediate spaces.

EMIL R. CAPITA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,698,691 Buttolph Jan. 8, 19291,844,353 Foulke Feb. 9, 1932 1,919,490 Von Lepel July 25, 19331,929,910 Zecher Oct. 10, 1933 1,981,583 Craig Nov. 20, 1934 2,004,577Lebedenko June 11, 1935 2,009,375 Ford July 23, 1935 2,118,452 Le BB1May 24, 1938 2,142,633 Dey Jan. 3, 1939 2,149,414 Bethenod Mar. 7, 19392,169,081 James Aug. 8, 1939 2,192,348 James Mar. 5, 1940 2,386,277Smith Oct. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 313,184 GreatBritain May 30, 1929 324,503 Great Britain Jan. 30, 1930

